If you’re an avid coffee drinker, you aren’t going to drink just any old brew. After all, why settle for low-quality drip coffee when you can elevate your morning joe with a delicious cup of espresso?
Enter the Cafflano Kompresso, the lightest portable espresso maker in the world. This handy brewer extracts espresso using 9 BARs of pressure, crafting a delicious and authentic brew in the process – perfect for your early morning kick!
Our team at Roasty Coffee had the opportunity to test out the Kompresso, so keep reading to learn our thoughts on this innovative espresso maker.
About the Cafflano Kompresso
The Cafflano Kompresso transforms the physics of making espresso into a lightweight, trim espresso machine, and is an excellent sidekick for coffee lovers on the go!
The Kompresso comes equipped with an espresso maker, tamping scoop, and a cup that all nest together when they’re not in use.
It also contains a hydraulic compressor, which keeps a consistent 9-BAR force as you extract the espresso, along with a push/pull handle to produce sufficient force with minimal effort.
Essentially, this product has all of the same parts that a regular espresso machine uses – the main differences are the deconstructed format and that it’s made from durable plastic rather than metal.
Additionally, the Kompresso doesn’t require the use of coffee filters, so you don’t need to purchase any extra parts. Just bring along a grinder, some coffee, and a container to heat your water, and you’re good to go!
Features and Benefits of the Cafflano Kompresso
The Kompresso is the most lightweight portable espresso maker on the market. It’s also tiny, at just over 6 inches long and 4 inches wide.
When you first use it, you might think that it feels flimsy – but don’t let its lack of heft fool you.
You can exert as much pressure as you want on this little machine, as it uses a piston to push water through the coffee puck. This coffee maker is quite durable, and isn’t known to break easily!
In addition to its durability, the Kompresso is equipped with many features. Let’s take a closer look below:
Basket Filter
Instead of the conventional portafilter that most espresso machines use, the Kompresso has a basket filter.
Rather than funneling the espresso through a narrow nozzle at the bottom of the filter, this product allows the grounds to flow freely through the bottom surface of the basket!
Tamper Scoop
The Kompresso comes with a scoop that doubles as a tamper and is the perfect size to fill the basket with coffee!
When it’s filled with ground coffee that’s evened off at the top, the tamper holds about 10 grams of fine espresso (the maximum dose is 15 grams).
The tamping scoop clicks together for easy filling. After you fill it, you can press down with the bottom of the scoop to compress the grounds.
Note that the scoop does have an embossed logo on it, and espresso aficionados will say that such a feature won’t create a perfectly flat surface.
However, considering this espresso maker is portable, this is a tiny qualm!
Also, some users like the fact that the tamper contains an embossed logo because if you can read it on the coffee grounds, you know that they’ve been properly tamped.
Marked Chamber
The chamber that you fill with water is marked, which allows you to measure how much water to add. However, because the chamber is relatively small, you’ll probably use the full amount of water every time.
For best results, preheat the product by running plain water through it before you begin pulling a shot.
Perfect Pressure
As long as you get the ground right, you can exert 9 BARs of pressure fairly easily. That said, we recommend experimenting with a few practice shots, as pulling espresso has a bit of a learning curve.
If the grind is too fine, the water can’t get through it, and if the grind is too coarse, the water won’t soak up enough of the flavor and aroma – you’ll end up with a watery cup of coffee with no real body.
However, once you’ve fine-tuned the texture of the grounds, you can produce a first-rate espresso with a rich crema!
Hydraulic Water Compression
One of the key features of the Kompresso is its hydraulic water compression.
Many other portable espresso makers use pneumatic air compression, but hydraulic pressure provides more force and extracts the water from the espresso more efficiently.
By using hydraulic compression, the water is able to saturate the grounds completely and evenly, providing a full-flavor shot of espresso goodness!
Easy To Clean
With the Kompresso, what you see is what you get. This product doesn’t have fancy accouterments, making it easy to dismantle for cleaning.
As long as you wash and rinse the parts every time you use it, you won’t be relegated to drinking a stale cup of coffee.
If you have trouble removing the used coffee puck in one piece, lift and depress the piston after you’ve pulled your shot. It will force the excess water out of the coffee so that you can tap out the puck.
If you’re pulling multiple shots for your cup, simply knock out the puck and wipe the filter clean before pulling the next one. This will prevent the other components from getting cold while you’re waiting to brew another beverage.
Makes Hot and Cold Brew
If you don’t have a way of making hot coffee while you’re on the road, no problem! You can make cold espresso using the Kompresso.
To make the best cold espresso possible, follow the tips below:
- Use fine espresso grounds
- Tamp the coffee grounds extra firmly in the basket
- Let the water sit for one minute before compressing it for a pre-infusion
- Use cold water instead of heating it to the usual 200 degrees
Even if you’re not using the Kompresso outside of the house, it can come in handy for making quick iced coffee drinks at home.
You’ll get a fresh brew that won’t melt your ice cubes and is ready to be whirled into the blender!
Overview: Cafflano Kompresso Review
Things We Like:
- Weighs less than 0.5 pounds
- Durable and difficult to break
- No filters to replace
- Can make hot or cold brew espresso
Room for Improvement:
- Can only use up to 2.7 ounces of water at a time
- Has a learning curve
- Need to preheat the Kompresso for a perfect brew
- Takes up to 8 minutes to produce a single shot
The Final Verdict: Is the Cafflano Kompresso Worth Trying?
There’s a lot to love about this tiny espresso maker. If you’re on the go, you’ll find its size and weight to be a benefit.
If you only make espresso at home, you might not need such a small, portable option – you might prefer a manual or automatic countertop model (such as the Flair espresso maker).
However, if you’re looking for an espresso maker that’s compact and convenient, the Kompresso is probably right up your alley. It doesn’t require batteries or electricity and fits easily into tote bags and backpacks.
All you need to include is water and coffee, and you’re all set to make a delicious cup of espresso on the go!
Happy Caffeinating!
Our Cafflano Kompresso Review: Espresso on the Go!
Experience brewing out and about! Dive into our Cafflano Kompresso Review for insights into its portable coffee-making prowess.
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